Aeroplane



Feb. 9, 1932.

l l l l l l l l I l i l l l T M CASKlE 1,843,926

AEROPLANE Filed Feb. 15, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l Feb. 9, 1932. T. M. MCASKIE 1,843,925

' AEROPLAN E Filed Feb. 15. 1930 '2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 9, 1932THOMAS MURDOCH MACOASKIE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS assrenoa or" one-HALF T0HATEAWAY WATSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS AEBOPLANE' Application filedFebruary 15, 1980. Serial No. 428,574.

This invention relates to aeroplanes, and its primary objectis to rovidenew and novel means for propelling t e aeroplane.

Another object is to provide new and novel means whereby-the aeroplanepropeller may be electrically driven.

A further object is to provide an air-rocket tube having a spiral vanearranged inside thereof, where y the aeroplane is driven by an intensespiral air current passing through the rocket tube. r

A still further object is to provide anaeroplane which can ascend ordescend vertically without the usual run-way, which can attain a stillposition aloft, and which is capable of being throttled down to anyspeed desired.

Another object is to provide an aeroplane t which has a longitudinalair-rocket tube and vertical air-rocket tube, each lot which areprovided with a spiral vane, whereby the lifting and driving forces ofthe aeroplane are controlled by the air velocity passing through thespirally ,vaned tubes.

, Numeieus' other objects and advantages will be apparent throughout theprogress of the following specification.

The invention comprises in general a lonitudinal air-rocket tube whichhas an open bell-mouth at its forward end and a restricted, outwardlyflaring rear end. A motor is arranged in the interior of this tube andis electrically driven. A continuous spiral vane is fixed to the innerperiphery of the tube, whereby the air generated by the propeller isspirally forced through the tube at an intense velocity. As the airleaves the outwardly flaring rear end of the tube, it attains a spiralform of intense velocity to propel the aero lane forwardly. Fourvertically arrange rocket tubes are provided to lift the planevertically so that the plane may ascend or descend vertically withoutrequiring the usual run in take-oil and landing. These vertical tubesare relatively short but are made along the same principle as thelongitudinal tube; having an electric motor provided in each tube todrive the propeller and the spiral vanes for forcing a spiral current ofair through the tubes. A

prime mover such as a gasoline on ine, or preferably, a Diesel engine isprovide which. is operatively connected with a generator; This generatorprovides the necessary electric current for operatin the motors fordriving the propellers. he vertical tubes are preferably arranged inseries. The two forward tubes may be operated alone, or the two reartubes may operate alone, or the four tubes may be operatedsimultaneously.

The accompanying drawings illustrate a selected embodiment of theinvention and the views therein are as follows:

Fig. 1 is a detail longitudinal sectional view of the improvedaeroplane.

Fig. 2 is a, detail top plan view.

Fig. 3.is a detail front elevation.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing a plurality of longitudinalair-rocket tubes arranged on an aeroplane.

Referring to the drawings, 5 designates generally an aeroplane havingthe usual fuseagegG, Wings 7, landing gear 8, 8, and ruder I Anair-rockettube 10 is arranged longitudinally through the aeroplane andcomprises an open bell-mouth 11 which is restricted slightly at 12 toconform with the propeller 13. The propeller is driven by a motor 14which is arranged inside of the tube and supported by 0 en frame work 15to permit air to spiral y pass thereabout. This tube is expanded orbellied out to a relatively large diameter rearwardly of the motor asdesignated generally at 16 and contracts or tapers rearwardly to providea choke effect within the tube as indicated generally at 17. The outerend 18 of this tube is flared outwardly as clearly shown in Fig. 1. Aspiral vane 19 is mounted on .the inside of the longitudinally 1 tube 10for the purpose of spirally directing an airvcurrent through the tubefor driving the aeroplane. The choke or restricted portion 17 of thetube causes an intense spiral of air to pass out through the flared end18 of the tube. The wide bell-mouth 11 of the tube permits a relativelylarge amount of air to be sucked in by the propeller 13 and ,theiiforced through the widened body portion 16 of the tube back through therestricted portion and thence out through the flared rear end 18 of thetube.

A pair of vertically arranged air-rocket tubes 20 and 21 are arranged atthe forward part of-the aeroplane and another pair of verticalair-rocket tubes 22 and 23 are arranged at the rear part of theaeroplane, Fig. 2. Each of these tubes are made similar to thelongitudinal air-rocket tube 10, and

have a bell-mouth 24, a restricted forward portion 25 just rearwardly ofthe bell-mouth,

' an expanded or belly portion 26' which commences rearwardly of therestricted portion 25, and a choke or contracted portion 27 between thebelly portion 26 and the bottom outwardly flared end 28. Each tube has amotor 29 arranged therein which is supported on an open support 30 fordriving the propeller 31. Each of these tubes is provided with a spiralvane 32 extending rearwardly from the motor 29 similar to the vane 19 inthe longitudinal tube 10. These vanes cause intense spiral air currentsto be forced through the tubes to create lifting power for the plane. Itis preferable that the propellers in the two forward tubes 20 and 21 aresynchronized and operate together, while the rear propellers operatetogether in the rear tubes 22 and 23. The front tubes may operate alone,or the rear tubes may operate alone, or all four tubes may be operatedsimultaneously. When the propellers operate in these tubes, air iscaused to spirally pass through the tubes at an intense velocity forlifting the i plane. A plane provided with these present tubes mayascend or descend without the usual run-way for take-off or landing. Inother words, from a standing position, the plane may rise vertically anddescend in the same manner.

ranged just below the wings 7 as shown in;

Fig. 4. In this latter embodiment, the vertical tubes 20 and 21 areprovided and in cases where the plane is relatively large, the reartubes 22 and 23 may also be included.

It is known that attempts have been made to provideplanes with tubes andto force air blasts through the tubes; but none of those planes hadhelical or'spiral vanes arranged therein, In practice, it has been foundthat the spiral vane formation causes an intense spiral air currentwhich drives and lifts the plane. These spiral vanes act similar to therifling of a gun barrel. A mortar, having a relatively short barrel, caneject a projectile only a relatively short distance, while a longer,rifled and choked barrel can drive the same projectile several times asfar. This same principle is true in air craft construction, and byproviding a relatively long, choked air-rocket tube and rifling it byusing spiral vanes, the driving force of the plane is considerablincreased. This driving force is providedby forcing a current of airspirally through a choked tube. The air leaving the tube 1s in the formof spiral currents having a cyclone effect which provides the m0- mentumto drivethe plane.

A plane constructed in accordance with the present invention is capableof rising and descending vertically without the customary run-"way intaking off or landing. These spiral vanes and the choking of the tubes,provides intense air currents for driving the plane and for controllingit, and creates an exceptional force for driving the plane at a highspeed. The location and operation of the propellers in the varioustubes, provides a flexible control for the plane, permitting it tooperate at various s eeds and to attain a still position while alo Theinvention provides means for flexibly controlling an electricallyoperated plane, and the location and construction of the tubes providesa great factor of safety, as it can ascend and descendvertically and itsspeed can be controlled at any height.

Changes may be made in the form, construction, and arrangement of theparts ion without departing from the spirit of the invention orsacrificin any of the advantages thereof, and the rig t is herebyreserved to make all such changes as fairly fall within the scope of thefollowing claims.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows: i I

1. In an aeroplane, a tube having a bellmouth at one end thereof, aflared portion at the other end, a restricted portion adjacent thebell-mouth, a choked portion adjacent the flared end, and a relativelylarge body portion intermediate the choked portion and the restrictedportion and merging therewith. v

2. In an aeroplane, a tube having a bellmouth at one end thereof, aflared portion at the other end, a restricted portion adjacent thebell-mouth, a choked portion ad acent the flared end, a relatively largebody portion intermediate the choked'portion and the restricted portionand merging therewith, and a spiral vane arranged in said tube.

3. In an aeroplane, a tube having a bellmouth at one end thereof, aflared portion at the other end, a restricted portion adjacent thebell-mouth, a choked portion adjacent the flared end, a relatively largebody portion intermediate the choked portion and the restricted portionand merging therewith, a spiral vane arranged in sald tube, and apropeller arranged within the tube at the restricted portion thereof.

4. In an aeroplane, a tube having a bellmouth at one end thereof, aflared portion at the other end, a restricted portion adjacent thebell-mouth, a choked portion adjacent the flared end, a relatively largebody portion intermediate the choked portion and the rep strictedportion and merging therewith, a spiral vane arranged in said tube, apropeller arranged within the tube at the restricted portion thereof,and a motor rearwardly of 5 said propeller for driving the propeller.

5. In an aeroplane, a tube having a bellmouth at one end thereof, aflared portion at the other end, a restricted portion adjacent thebell-mouth, a choked portion adjacent g the flared end, a relativelylarge body portion intermediate the choked portion and the restrictedportion and merging therewith, a spiral vane arranged in said tube, apropeller arranged within the tube at the restricted 2:, portionthereof, a motor rearwardly of said propeller for driving the propeller,and means for supplying electrical current to said motor.

6. In an aeroplane, a tube having restricted passages therein atopposite ends, and a pro eller arranged in a restricted passage in saidtube at one end thereof.

7 In an aeroplane, a tube having restricted ends of a predetermineddiameter, anda :m central portion of a diameter greater than the endsand merging therewith.

8. In an aeroplane, a tube having one of its ends of a predetermineddiameter and the other end of a diameter smaller than the first end, thebody of the tube between the ends being larger than at the ends.

In an aeroplane, a tube having restricted portions intermediate itsends, and a central body connected to and merging with the restrictedportions, the central body portion being larger in diameter than anyother part of the tube.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

so THOMAS MURDOCH MACCASKIE. 4

